Have you ever noticed how some people have the knack, fortitude, determination, and will to keep going strong, even when everyone else can barely take another step? Do you know someone like that? You wonder … what keeps that person going?

I have an older brother like that. George is ten years older than me (I’m 64). We were building a garage this past summer; a pretty big garage (24 feet by 40 feet). I wanted a concrete floor. George and his youngest son did the concrete work for me. From the time the cement truck arrived till we broom-swept the finished concrete floor, George was non-stop, pushing wheel barrow loads in to areas the truck could not reach, leveling, troweling, etc., etc. I was played out just watching, know what I mean?

As I reflect on George’s efforts, I’m reminded of Someone else Who never quits … Jesus. Consider His life, His travels, His ministries, His day-to-day activities, and ultimately, His Life-sacrifice. He just never quit. Even in death He was DOING the will of the Father. And He never stops giving. He gave His Life, to give life. He became weak to help us be strong. He has precisely what you need to get going and keep going! If you’ll open your heart to Him right now, He’ll give you more than enough to accomplish whatever you desire, to His honor, for His glory! Try Him. You’ll be glad you did!

PleasuresForEvermore.com was started to inform people about our relationship with God, or to get us to ponder, What does God think about us?

In the King James Bible, from Ephesians chapter 1, verse 20, we’re told that God has ” .. set Him (Jesus) at His own right hand in the heavenly places.” Further, Ephesians chapter 2, verse 6, says, ” .. and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 16, verse 11: “You (God) will show me the path of life: in Your Presence is fulness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

According to the two references from Ephesians, who is at God’s right hand? Jesus AND believers who have been raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. What then, or who then, are the pleasures for evermore at God’s hand, as quoted in Psalm 16:11? We are! Now this could be a new thought for a lot of folks … to think that we are pleasures to God for evermore. If so, good! That’s part of our goal, to challenge the way we’ve been taught or thought, and to open our hearts to new revelations from God. Really, they are not new revelations … just what’s been there all along, but brought to light by a fresh wind from the Spirit of God.

Tune in later for more in future posts. Thank you.

It’s amazing that when we are confronted with new challenges, we often fail to remember past victories. Because of current problems we are facing, we forget that we’ve gone through similar or worse situations before.

The Apostle Paul makes this statement in his second letter to Timothy, in chapter 1, verse 6: “I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God which is in you by the putting on of my hands.” OK, so Paul has never put his hands on you. But, he is putting you in remembrance of the gift of God which is in you. What gift is that? The gift of faith.

From Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 12, verse 3, we learn this from the latter half of the verse: ” … think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Now, let me emphasize the next comment is what I believe regarding that phrase. Everyone say, “It’s what he believes.” EVERY person HAS BEEN dealt the measure of faith. Every person! The person who calls him\herself a Christian AND the person who says, “There is no god.” Every person. Every person has been dealt the measure of faith. Why do I say that? Because anyone – murderer, lier, adulterer, thief, non-believer – can act on the measure of faith already resident in them, at any moment, and become a believer. No devil or demon or angel can stop that from happening when the decision is made and exercised. The measure of faith to make that decision was already in residence. After the decision and declaration – Jesus, I accept You as my Savior – is made, we are to live by faith.

I believe Paul was telling us to stir up the gift (of faith) which is (already) in us in order to face any situation that comes our way. We are to draw from our memories the victories that God has demonstrated in the past. And if you have no prior victories, just recall the first one you experienced – your salvation – and know it’s the first of many to come! Don’t look at the current circumstances and cower, but look to past deliverances and rejoice .. now! OK?

I would like to share my Christian views to help you reduce stress. “Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn’t happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.”

Pray, always pray. Try and go to bed on time and wake in time so you are not starting your day in a rush. Never say “Yes” to someone even if you know you shouldn’t. Say “no” to projects that don’t fit into your time schedule. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places. This only compromises your mental health and adds to your stress levels. If you have children delegate tasks that they are capable of doing. This will open some time for you and will show them they can be responsible, too. Simplify your life by removing clutter. Less is more, although one is sometimes not enough and two are often too many. Take one day at a time and separate your worries from concerns. Ask God to guide you and let go of the anxiety. If you cannot do anything about the situation, forget it. Live within your means. Keep your mouth shut (KMS); this single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble. Eat right and exercise; take care of yourself because nobody will take better care of you, than yourself. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received through God. Having problems? Look to God and every night before bed, think of the many things you are grateful for and give thanks to God. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

The greatest thing about my Christian views is that our loving heavenly father sees all of the bad we do and yet he still loves us. He cares for us so compassionately. God longs for us to have an everlasting relationship with him. That is why Christians believe in forgiveness of sins. God sent his only son, who never sinned to be the offering for our sins. So, that with God through Christ we can be made right. We need to ask for forgiveness for our sins without forgiveness we remain far away from God.

God will not do anything we do not want him to do. It is our choice whether or not to receive his forgiveness. He will not force anything onto us. We have to let go of our selfish pride and tell God we are really sorry for our sins. It takes a big commitment and we have to be willing to let go of our bad habits and ugly attitudes to be a true Christian. God will not leave those who have a real relationship with him but sin will damage the relationship. To keep our relationship healthy and strong we need to confess our sins and try and live the way God wants us to. Once we cask for God’s forgiveness his love will begin to sink deep into our hearts and transform our lives. We should seek to please God with our attitudes and actions. We should be forgiving towards others. After all, if God can forgive us then we should offer that same forgiving spirit towards others.

The Christian views that I have been raised with is the pillar and support of the way I live and raise my family. I have taught my family that with faith in God you can and will overcome any obstacles. The true way to seek understanding is through prayer to God. When you truly know God and know the true words of God, you will be able to recognize and combat false teachings.

Another Christian view is to have an “understanding heart”, that is to learn right motive and to be able to discern bad motives of our own or those of others. By adhering to the right motivation one can avoid being distracted and misled into a devious and foolish life. Pray for true understanding through prayer and ask God to guide you and help you understand his true law. It is necessary that our belief be demonstrated by baptism. Once we are baptized we try and keep ourselves clean from fornication and idolatry. We should also live our lives according to bible principles. We should stay away from anger, obscene talk, stealing and drunkenness and live our lives according to bible principles. A true Christian view is to have outstanding love towards one another and love among ourselves.